Reference no: EM131740691
Discussion 1:
The most enjoyable scene for me was when Gandalf played off of Bilbo's pride. Having all the dwarfs show up and to do so just makes me smile anytime I read this book? All Gandalf did was sit and watch this unfold. This stood out for me because everyone I am sure at some point has let their pride/dignity get the better of them and speak without truly thinking through everything. Learning that you must think before you speak is of course the big lesson there, though it will still happen on occasion. I love that this scene truly is relatable on that level. I do think Bilbo is like many mythical heroes letting someone use his pride against him. The way he differs I think is he immediately realized his mistake after speaking, also the fact he really has no magic or abilities also makes him different than most.
Discussion 2:
The most shocking part so far in the book, The Hobbit, is when Bilbo was introduced as a shy man who never left his home. One day, a man named Gandalf approached Bilbo at the front of his house. Bilbo does not like to leave his house and prefers to keep to himself. After a bunch of hobbits ransacked Bilbo's home, Gandalf explained to Bilbo that his company is going on an adventure. Gandalf explains more to Bilbo and asks Bilbo to sign a contract to join his company on this adventure. However, Bilbo is reluctant to sign the contract that night. The next day, Bilbo is overly excited because he decided to partake this adventure that Gandalf offered him the night before. Bilbo is so excited to go on this adventure and leave his home. This was shocking to me because in the beginning, the reader learned that Bilbo was an introvert and did not like to adventure far from his home. This was a major step for Bilbo to take in the beginning of the book. Personally, I learned that you need to take risks that maybe you aren't sure of at first. For example, you might be nervous to apply for a new job because it is out of your comfort zone, but then you realize how much that job would make you grow as an individual so you apply and get the job. And in the end, you grow due to the life changes you decided to make.
A mythological hero usually possesses certain qualities that make them stand out as the hero. Bilbo showed both strength and courage as he took charge in many situations. One example is when Bilbo uses his role as the burglar to try to steal the trolls' money purse when they came across a fire with three trolls. This exemplified the specific qualities as a hero. However, Bilbo differs from the typical model because in the beginning, he did not express these qualities. One could describe Bilbo as the underdog in the beginning of the book. However, he proved that to be wrong. One might expect the big, strong character to be the hero and that is not always the case.